Jefferson is on the hunt for his father’s killer, while Anissa uses her new powers to rectify a wrong after a protest fails.

Three Sevens: The Book of Thunder

This Black Lightning review contains spoilers. You have been warned.

This week’s episode of Black Lightning picks up where we left off in Episode 5. Black Lightning is lying in an alley. Freeland’s police department is suiting up as the chief announces he’s received a tip Black Lightning was on the East End. Black Lightning struggles to his feet as police sirens and falls back on the ground. Gambi pulls up, helps him into his van and drives off.

Joey Toledo limps into Tobias’ place and tells him he just fought Black Lightning. An angry Kingpin Tobias grabs Toledo by the throat and lifts him into the air. Again… budget special effects show here. Toledo explains what happened and tells Tobias he tipped the police chief about Black Lightning’s location and his current state. Tobias orders Toledo to make sure Black Lightning doesn’t live out the night. Henderson tells the chief Black Lightning got away. He asks him where the chief got the tip from. The chief blows him off as his phone rings. The fake mobile UI on what looks like a Galaxy Nexus in an Otterbox shows an incoming call from “JT.”

Back at Gambi’s Lynn is checking on Jefferson. He appears to be fine despite evidence of a brain hemorrhage. Lynn tells him his healing factor isn’t quite what it used to be, but it is still working. Lynn takes Jefferson’s cranial CT scans with her to work and compares them against those on Green Light. It appears the two scans match. Her coworker is on the phone looking on through a window as she compares the scans.

Defaced Confederate Statue

Anissa gets arrested for defacing a Confederate statue in protest. Jefferson and Anissa argue over her protesting the statue. She says the the Confederate statue honors a traitor and is an insult to Black people. His concern is over her safety. Jefferson reminds Anissa tensions are high between the Black community and the police and says it would only take one racist police officer to end her life. He also points out that they used guns (super soakers). This was the writers take on not just the events in Charlottesville, but also commentary on Tamir Rice, the 12-year old boy that was shot and killed by Cleveland police officer, Timothy Loehmann.

White Nationalists Guard a Confederate Statue

Freeland gets invaded by white nationalists as they link arms around the Confederate statue screaming, “You will not replace us!” The same chant white nationalists belted out while wielding tiki torches in Charlottesville.  Kara and Anissa are watching and reacting to the news that one of the white nationalists ran over a protestor with a car. This, of course, is nod to the murder of Heather Heyer by white terrorist, James Alex Fields, Jr. during the protests in Charlottesville.

Anissa decides to take out the statue once and for all. She suits up, pays a visit to the site, does her superhero yoga breathing and stomps the ground shattering the statue. People at the vigil being held scurry in fear. Anissa gets freaked out and runs off. She calls her mother who is still at work. Earlier in the episode Anissa asked Lynn to take a look at the research her grandfather left in the storage locker. Anissa decides its time to tell her mother about her meta human abilities. She tells Lynn she is on her way to the lab to discuss it with her.




Jefferson and Gambi are at odds over how to deal with Tobias. Jefferson wants to kill Tobias. Gambi, at least on the surface, appears to be more concerned with the consequences for Jefferson should he follow through on this. Jefferson devises a plan where he involves the doctor that observes and treats Tobias for any medical issues he may have as a result of his albinism. Black Lightning convinces the doctor to call Tobias in for a consultation in an attempt to set a trap for Tobias.

Gambi calls Lynn and taps him into Black Lightning’s intercom as he stands on the ledge of a building just outside the doctor’s office. He has flashbacks of his father’s death as Tobias pulls into the alley. Lynn reminds Jefferson of his daughters and tells him she accepts him as Black Lightning. A crash is heard in the back as she is telling him this.She tells him someone is breaking in and headed towards her lab. Jefferson tells her to hide and that he is on his way.

Superhero Yoga Breath makes Thunder Bulletproof

Anissa, still in costume, walks into the lab, sees broken glass and a security guard laying on the floor. She finds Lynn tied and gagged in a chair while 2 men are trying to pull data from the computers. Lynn instantly recognizes Anissa. The men shoot at her, but with one huff of her superhero yoga breathing technique her skin and her latex outfit (?) become impenetrable. The men run off and as Anissa is attempting to untie Lynn from the chair, Black Lightning walks in ordering Anissa to let Lynn go. The two superheroes put on quite the fight. Black Lightning defeats her, but realizes the woman he just fought is his daughter, Anissa. Back at the Pierces, Anissa wakes up to discover her father is Black Lightning. We will have to wait until next week to discover how this revelation impacts their relationship.

Gambi pays a visit to Lady Eve to ask why her people attacked Lynn. It appears Lynn’s coworker tipped off Lady Eve. Lady Eve threatens to out Gambi’s dirty laundry. It’ll be interesting to find out what specifically she has on him. Tobias picks up Khalil and promises him great power. I’m assuming they are going to put him into some Weapon X style program and give him meta human abilities.

This was a great episode! There were lots of revelations, some lulls, but the battle between Black Lightning and Anissa was well worth it. Gambi’s visit to Lady Eve was super sketch. Tobias promising Khalil that he’s going to basically turn him into Bane is hella exciting. I’m assuming the battle against Khalil won’t occur until Jennifer discovers her meta human abilities. The social commentary was excellent and it wasn’t handled in a half-assed way like they do on Law and Order. With tensions rising between Lady Eve and Tobias, a new superhero duo and the dirt on Gambi potentially coming out, there is lots to look forward to during the back half of the season.

What are your thoughts on the episode? Let me know in the comments below.

“Black Lightning” airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET on The CW or you can watch it for FREE on demand via the CW app available on iOS, Android, Roku, FireTV, Xbox… pretty much everywhere. 

Edwin Iguina

Edwin is the founder of BRO.geek. He has a passion for gadgets, comic books, comic book TV shows, movies, and the Philadelphia Eagles.

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